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Constitution or Articles of Association:

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Bahá'í Club of Columbia University
having formed a voluntary club, do hereby make and establish this constitution
in order to serve the school and campus community and to promulgate and
further the ideals of the Bahá'í Faith, as proclaimed by
its Prophet-Founder, Baha'u'llah. The Bahá'í Faith
upholds the unity of God, recognizes the unity of His Prophets, and inculcates
the principle of the oneness and wholeness of the entire human race.
It proclaims the necessity and the inevitability of the unification of
mankind, asserts that it is gradually approaching, and claims that nothing
short of the transmuting spirit of God, working through His Mouthpiece
in this day, can ultimately succeed in bringing it about. It moreover
enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an unfettered search after
truth, condemns all manner of prejudice and superstition, declares the
purpose of religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims
its essential harmony with science, and recognizes it as the foremost agency
for the pacification and orderly progress of human society. It unequivocally
maintains the principle of equal rights, opportunities and priveleges for
men and women, insists on compulsory education, eliminates extremes of
poverty and wealth, abolishes the institution of priesthood, prohibits
slavery, asceticism, mendicancy and monasticism, prescribes monogamy, discourages
divorce, emphasizes the necessity of strict obedience to one's government,
exalts any work performed in the spirit of service to the level of worship,
urges either the creation or the selection of an auxiliary international
language, and delineates the outlines of those institutions that must establish
and perpetuate the general peace of mankind.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The association shall be known as the Bahá'í Club of
Columbia University.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this association shall be to further the tenets of the
Bahá'í Faith, to invite those interested to investigate the
Faith for themselves; to promote the unity of mankind; and to foster understanding,
love and fellowship on this campus by sponsoring such things as lectures,
information tables, service projects, discussions, informal gatherings,
social activities and public meetings. This association shall not
endorse any partisan or political group on a campus level or otherwise.

ARTICLE III - DURATION

This association, once formed, shall exist as long as two or more Bahá'ís
officially recognized as such by the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá'ís of the United States shall be members thereof and
as long as it shall comply with all rules and regulations of Columbia University
and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the
United States.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this association is open to all Columbia University students,
faculty, staff, alumni, and members of their families, irrespective of
race, color, gender, class, nationality, disability or religion.
Any such person may join and remain a member of this association by assenting
to its principles and purposes as stated within this constitution.
If the Bahá'í membership drops below two, the club is suspended.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

Officers of this association will be elected by the Bahá'í
electoral process consisting of a majority vote of a quorum of the voting
members, and by secret ballot with no campaigning. Officers will
include a Secretary, Chair and Treasurer. Officers must be members
of the Bahá'í Faith, recognized as such by the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. The duties
of the Secretary include scheduling club meetings and planning the agenda
in consultation with the Chair and members, keeping and reporting minutes
of meetings, club correspondence and records. The duties of the Chair
include presiding at meetings, ensuring that there is free and open discussion
during the meetings, that discussion is kept to the point, that all members
are given the opportunity to contribute to the discussion, to clarify decisions
so that they are fully understood and can be accurately recorded in the
minutes, call for a vote when appropriate, and plan the agenda with the
Secretary. The duties of the Treasurer are to receive, account for
and disburse club funds in accordance with club decisions. The club
may assign other duties to officers, appoint officer assistants, task forces
and committees as needed. Decisions concerning activities, finances
or affairs of the club will be made using the process of Bahá'í
consultation at regular or special meetings at which a quorum of the voting
members of the club is present.

ARTICLE VI - FINANCES

There shall be no dues payable by or assessments levied against this
association. Bahá'í clubs may sponsor events which
result in financial gain, or accept any funds from the School or University,
or non-Bahá'í members, or any other voluntary source.
These monies, however, may in no way be contributed to Bahá'í
Funds, either local, national, or international, and are for the promotion
of Club activities only.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the members of
this association, provided that the amendment shall be approved by the
National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'ís of the United
States and proper campus authority.

ARTICLE VIII - AFFILIATION

This association is, and shall remain, independent of affiliation with
any other entity, provided that this association shall in all respects
remain responsible to the administration of this campus and obedient to
its regulations. It is understood that recognition of a person's
membership in the Bahá'í community, as apart from membership
in this association, is subject to rules promulgated by the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States. It is
further understood that the use of the term "Bahá'í" in connection
with this association is upon permission granted by the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and subject
to withdrawal by that body.

ARTICLE IX - SPONSORSHIP

Any faculty sponsor deemed necessary for this association by Columbia
University shall be one who, in addition to being on the staff of said
institution, has sufficient knowledge of the Bahá'í teachings
to give necessary and proper guidance to this association.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have executed together these Articles of Association
this the 2nd day of March, 1999.